daily Emerald
Vol. 82, No. 164
Eugene, Oregon 97403
Thursday, May 28, 1981
Senate mulls change
to semester system
System would feature 16-week semesters
and calendar year beginning late August
By MARIAN GREEN
Of the Emerald
A proposed early semester system
conversion got a mixed reaction from the
University Senate Wednesday.
The conversion proposal, submitted
by Rules Committee member Maradel
Gale, features two 16-week semesters
and a calendar year beginning in late
August and ending in early May.
Gale noted that former University Pres.
William Boyd tabled a similar motion in
1977 because the Senate vote was very
slim.
Reporting the findings of the rules
committee, she said the early semester
system is used by 53 percent of the
nation’s colleges and universities and
provides "the ability to more intensely
cover course material at a less hectic
pace."
In addition, the University would save
money in registration, grading and
admissions. She said computer savings
alone would be about $31,000.
Senate members voted 22-10-2 to ap
prove an amended motion that does not
specify a conversion to an early semester
system. Because Pres. Paul Olum, also
president of the University Assembly,
must approve or reject the Senate’s
amendment, the members also voted
14-15-6 to reject the original proposal.
On the whole, Senate members ap
proved of the semester switch. However,
they took issue with the early semester
approach.
"As an advocate, I'm very much in
favor of the semester system, but I'm
leery of the early' system," said Michael
Ellis, head of the physical education
department.
Computer and Information Science
Prof. George Struble criticized the sys
tem’s final exam week — a split-week
schedule which would run from Wed
nesday through Tuesday.
“It would shorten the time available for
final exams studying,” Struble said.
He said students and faculty already
are under pressure to finish finals early
and that pressure would ‘‘increase
dramatically” if finals were scheduled
the Wednesday immediately following
the last day of classes.
Political science Prof. Joe Fiszman
said semester systems stifle course ex
perimentation and freedom.
“It will prevent experimentation with
courses such as seminars, especially
graduate courses.”
Some Senate members were con
cerned that the early semester system
cuts into the summer vacation months —
often considered a faculty fringe benefit.
“I don’t think it’s a joke. One of the
reasons the faculty are glad to stay at
Oregon despite the miserably low salar
ies is the quality of life," said math Prof.
Lewis Ward.
Ward also said students who earn
money for next year's tuition over the
summer may be tempted to transfer to
Oregon State University or Portland
State University.
SUAB chairer Gale Graham presented
a SUAB survey of departmental reaction
to the proposal that indicated many of
the same concerns expressed at the
Senate meeting.
Study hall it’s knot
Students looking to get an early start on cramming for finals, such as the man
above, will find it hard to stick to the books today. Temperatures are expected to
reach into the low 80s with a few light winds to cool the air.
Planning group approves bike restrictions
By HARRY ESTEVE
Of the Emerald
Students commuting by bicy
cle to the University next fall
may be doing a little more walk
ing and a little less pedalling
through campus.
A plan to restrict cyclists to
r
only a few designated bike,
routes on campus was formally
adopted by the University plan
ning committee Wednesday
night, after a change was made
to include a route from Susan
Campbell Hall to Kincaid Street.
According to the revised plan,
most campus sidewalks will be
off-limits to cyclists beginning
next fall in what planners called
an "experimental phase” of the
University’s long-range bicycle
plan.
The decision to call it an ex
periment came after committee
member Steven Brye voiced his
opposition to the proposal, say
Beres improves but is still critical
George Beres is slightly improved but still
in critical condition, Sacred Heart Hospital
administrators said Wednesday night.
The University sports information director
remains in intensive care at Sacred Heart after
being struck by a car Tuesday morning while
riding his bicycle at 30th and Harris streets.
Beres was rushed to the Eugene Hospital
and Clinic, then to Sacred Heart where he
underwent several hours of surgery for a skull
fracture and removal of a blood clot from the
base of the skull.
Hospital administrators said Beres is
semi-comatose, but can sometimes under
stand simple commands.
“He’s still very confused,” said one ad
ministrator.
Beres was traveling west on 30th Avenue
and attempted to make a right-hand turn onto
Harris Street. The automobile, driven by Ed
ward Bosshardt, of Eugene, turned from Harris
onto 30th, striking Beres as it turned.
No citations were issued The Eugene
Police Department is investigating the in
cident.
Beres has held his University position for
the past five years. A former play-by-play
announcer and sports information director in
the midwest, Beres edited “Winning Running,”
a book written by University men's track coach
Bill Dellinger.
ing it would discourage
students from riding their bikes
to school. He said he would
“feel more comfortable” with an
experimental implementation,
subject to a review and public
hearing after fall term.
Brye's fears were echoed by
Eugene bicycle coordinator
Charles Nordgaard who said the
city was opposed to the Univer
sity’s plan.
“(The plan) restricts bicycle
usage which contradicts the
University’s policy of encourag
ing bicycle use,” he said. “We
do not favor such discour
agement.”
The new plan restricts cyclists
to campus roadways only, ex
cept for a route extending from
the dorms west of Agate Street
to Franklin Boulevard, passing
through the EMU breezeway
and the science complex. Wed
nesday’s meeting added the
route from Susan Campbell to
Kincaid Street
The restrictions will be in ef
fect from 7:30 a m. to 5:30 p.m.
Both Nordgaard and Brye
also questioned the commit
tee's stated enforcement policy,
which they said may prove less
than effective.
According to the plan, the
regulations "will be largely self
enforcing” and "pedestrians
will gently but firmly call atten
tion to bikers who have strayed
from the bike routes.”
The only way the new plan will
be effective. Nordgaard said, is
if the planning committee works
closely with campus security to
enforce the restrictions. He said
he favored a ticketing program.
Otherwise, Nordgaard said,
"the plan is doomed to fail.”
Complaints from pedestrians
and cyclists alike prompted
University officials to ask the
planning department to come
up with a system of separate
routes for bicycles in order to
stem bicycle / pedestrian
accidents on campus, which
peak during class change per
iods.
The approved plan now goes
before University administration
for final approval.